Srinu's Insectivores 10Jan04 Final
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REVIEW ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 19(2): 1361-1371 CHECKLIST OF INSECTIVORES (MAMMALIA: INSECTIVORA) OF SOUTH ASIA S. Chakraborty 1, C. Srinivasulu 2*, Bhargavi Srinivasulu 2, M.S. Pradhan 3 and P.O. Nameer 4 1 Zoological Survey of India, ‘M’ Block, New Alipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India. 2 Wildlife Biology Section, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500007, India. 3 Western Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Vidyanagar, Sector 29, Rawat Road, PCNTDA Post, Pune, Maharashtra 411044, India. 4 Department of Wildlife, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Velanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala 680656, India. * Corresponding author Email: 1 [email protected]; 2 [email protected]; 3 [email protected]; 4 [email protected] Abstract IUCN (1995), and, Roberts (1997) to gain insights on the current A checklist of 38 species of insectivores belonging to taxonomic status of insectivores occurring in the region. 12 genera under four subfamilies in three families, Besides these, we also referred to numerous sources for (namely, Erinaceidae Fischer, 1817; Talpidae Fischer, 1817 information including Sclater (1891), Cabrera (1925), Lindsay and Soricidae Fischer, 1817) known to occur in South (1929), Allen (1938), Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951), Asia including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Harrison (1958), Petter (1963), Biswas and Ghose (1970), Abe Pakistan and Sri Lanka is provided. (1971, 1932), Niethammer (1973), Chakraborty (1975, 1983), Doglov and Hoffman (1977), Jameson and Jones (1977), Mitchell Keywords (1975), Corbet (1978, 1988), Hutterer (1979), Corbet and Hill (1980, Checklist, Erinaceidae, Soricidae, Talpidae, 1986), Saha (1980), Hoffman (1986, 1987), Butler (1988), George Insectivora, Mammalia, South Asia (1988), Yates and Moore (1990), Abe et al. (1991), Frost et al. (1991), Agrawal (1993), Pradhan, et al. (1997), Nameer (1999), Nowak (1999), and Alfred et al. (2002). Introduction This paper follows Srinivasulu and Pradhan (2003) for scientific Unlike Order Rodentia on which comprehensive works by names, synonyms and distribution information in South Asia. Ellerman (1940, 1961) exist, the Order Insectivora has not been given much attention. Details of species diversity of the Order Results Insectivora is available in Blyth (1863), Jerdon (1874), Sterndale A total of 38 species of insectivores belonging to 12 genera (1884), Blanford (1888), Lindsay (1929), Ellerman and Morrison- under four subfamilies of three families have been recorded Scott (1951), and, Corbet and Hill (1992). Very recently IUCN from South Asia. The family Erinaceidae Fischer, 1817 is (1995) has put together a comprehensive list of known represented by five species belonging to one genus, namely insectivores of Eurasia. As is applicable to all other groups, the Hemiechinus Fitzinger, 1866. The family Talpidae Fischer, 1817 Order Insectivora too has witnessed numerous taxonomic includes two species in two genera, and the family Soricidae changes since the aforementioned literature became available. Fischer, 1817 includes 31 species in two subfamilies, namely – Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made, here, to record Soricinae Fischer, 1817 and Crocidurinae Milne-Edwards, 1872. an updated checklist of the insectivore species reported from The former subfamily includes 11 species in five genera, while this region. The checklist also provides information on their the latter includes 20 species in four genera (Table 1). synonyms, subspecies and distribution. Of this diversity, 15 species (39%) are endemic to South Asia Methods with four species being endemic to more than one country. Of The present work relies on Corbet and Hill (1992), Hutterer the seven species endemic to India four are restricted to (1993), IUCN (1995) and a list prepared by Dr. Mike Jordan. We Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while four are endemic to Sri reviewed the major works by Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951, Lanka (Table 2). Generically the genus Feroculus Kelaart, 1850 1953), Phillips (1980), Corbet and Hill (1991, 1992), Hutterer (1993), is endemic to South Asia, and the genus Solisorex Thomas, Received 28 November 2003 Finally accepted 10 January 2004 February 2004 Zoos' Print Journal 19(2): 1361-1371 1361 Checklist of insectivores (Mammalia: Insectivora) of South Asia S. Chakraborty et al. Table 1. Species diversity of Order Insectivora in South Asia Family: Erinaceidae Fischer, 1817 Subfamily: Erinaceinae Fischer, 1817 Scientific name No. of species Remarks Genus Hemiechinus Fitzinger, 1866 Hedgehogs Erinaceidae Corbet and Hill (1992) treated this genus under subfamily Erinaceinae Hemiechinus 5 Endemics: 1 regional; 1 Indian Erinaceinae Fischer, 1817 in family Erinaceidae Fischer, 1817. Originally regarded as a subgenus of Erinaceus Linnaeus, 1758, Talpidae it was raised to generic status by Corbet (1978, 1988). Frost et Talpinae al. (1991), IUCN (1995) and Nowak (1999) include two subgenus, Euroscaptor 1 namely, Hemiechinus Fitzinger, 1866 and Paraechinus Parascaptor 1 Monotypic Trouessart, 1879. Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951) and Corbet Soricidae and Hill (1992) treat both these at the generic level. This genus Soricinae is widespread from northern Africa through China and northern Anourosorex 1 Monotypic South Asia. This genus is represented by five species in two Chimmarogale 1 subgenera in the region. Sorex 4 1. Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770) Soriculus 4 1770. Erinaceus auritus Gmelin, Nov. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop., Nectogale 1 Monotypic 14: 519. Crocidurinae Name: Long-eared Hedgehog Crocidura 11 Endemic: 5 Indian; 1 Sri Lankan Type locality: Astrakhan, Southeastern Russia Synonyms: Erinaceus auritus Gmelin, 1770 Solisorex 1 Monotypic, Sri Lankan endemic Erinaceus megalotis Blyth, 1845 Suncus 7 Endemic: 2 regional; 1 Indian; 2 Sri Subspecies: Hemiechinus auritus megalotis (Blyth, 1845) Lankan Distribution: Baluchistan in Pakistan. Feroculus 1 Monotypic, regional endemic Comments: Belongs to subgenus Hemiechinus Fitzinger, 1866. Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951) treated Hemiechinus megalotis Blyth, 1845 as a distinct species and included 16 subspecies of Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770) of which 1924 is endemic to Sri Lanka. only one subspecies, now a species, pertains to South Asia. This was also followed by Roberts (1997). Niethammer (1973) The present known insectivore diversity on record from South treated Hemiechinus megalotis Blyth, 1845 as a subspecies, Asia is listed below. The synonyms provided are those followed by Corbet and Hill (1992), Hutterer (1993) and IUCN applicable for the South Asian region. We have not listed extra- (1995). limital synonyms that may be valid for some taxa elsewhere. Table 2. Insular endemic species of Order Insectivora in South Asia Scientific Name Distribution Remarks Crocidurinae Crocidura andamanensis Andaman & Nicobar Islands Only from South Andaman Isle Crocidura hispida Andaman & Nicobar Islands Only from Middle Andaman Isle Crocidura jenkinsi Andaman & Nicobar Islands Only from South Andaman Isle Crocidura miya Sri Lanka Crocidura nicobarica Andaman & Nicobar Islands Only from Great Nicobar Isle Solisorex pearsoni Sri Lanka Only fron C Highlands Suncus fellowes-gordoni Sri Lanka Suncus zeylanicus Sri Lanka 1362 February 2004 Zoos' Print Journal 19(2): 1361-1371 Checklist of insectivores (Mammalia: Insectivora) of South Asia S. Chakraborty et al. 2. Hemiechinus collaris (Gray, 1830) Name: Indian Hedgehog 1830. Erinaceus collaris Gray in Hardwicke, Illust. Indian Zool., Type locality: Bhawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. I pl. 8. Synonyms: Erinaceus micropus Blyth, 1846 Name: Collared Hedgehog Paraechinus micropus (Blyth, 1846) Type locality: Doab, between Yamuna and Ganges rivers, India Hemiechinus mentalis Fitzinger, 1867 Synonyms: Erinaceus collaris Gray, 1830 Erinaceus pictus Stoliczka, 1872 Erinaceus spatangus Bennett, 1832 Paraechinus intermedius Biswas and Ghose, 1970 Erinaceus grayi Bennett, 1832 Paraechinus intermedius kutchicus Biswas and Erinaceus indicus Royle, 1833 Ghose, 1970 Erinaceus blanfordi Anderson, 1878 Subspecies: Hemiechinus micropus kutchicus (Biswas & Paraechinus hypomelas blanfordi (Anderson, 1878) Ghose, 1970) Subspecies: None. Distribution: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan in Distribution: Endemic to the region. Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal India; Pakistan. Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Comments: Belongs to subgenus Paraechinus Trouessart, Pradesh in India; Sind in Pakistan. Maharashtra specimen in 1879. Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951) synonymized National Zoological Collection, Kolkata, India perhaps could Erinaceus nudiventris Horsfield, 1851 with Paraechinus be an ‘introduced’ or ‘isolate’ specimen. micropus (Blyth, 1846) with a doubtful status, a trend followed Comments: Belongs to subgenus Hemiechinus Fitzinger, by Corbet and Hill (1992). Frost et al. (1991), Hutterer (1993) 1866. Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951), and, Corbet (1978) and IUCN (1995) treat nudiventris as a distinct species – included this as a subspecies under Hemiechinus auritus Hemiechinus nudiventris (Horsfield, 1851) under subgenus (Gmelin, 1770). It has been accorded specific status by Corbet Paraechinus Trouessart, 1879. Biswas and Ghose (1970) and Hill (1992). The name Erinaceus blanfordi Anderson, 1878 described new species and subspecies, Paraechinus erroneously included under the Paraechinus hypomelas Brandt, intermedius and Paraechinus intermedius kutchicus. 1836 by Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951),